Thoughts on Domain Name Availability

Without a doubt, the online projects I choose to spend time on are usually a result of domain name availability. Furthermore, the ideas I come up with for development are almost always due to the availability of the domain names in the first place. By preparing lists for the Available Domain Names Blog, I often scan lists containing thousands of expiring keyword domains. It basically a long list of unrealized ideas. Most of them make little to no impression on me but there are plenty that do. Ideas that inspire me and are further reinforced by the soon to be availability of the domain name that makes the project possible. It's a reverse process but it works for me.

In the past I've come up with my own development ideas but became discouraged after checking into suitable domain names. It appears nothing is ever available when I approach things from that end. Sure, I could pay more through the domain aftermarket but I myself have many unrealized ideas and I'd be broke if I paid aftermarket prices for every domain that fit some potential future development project. It's more efficient and cost effective for me to review other peoples ideas that were never launched. The drop lists are a perfect engine for these types of ideas and running this site requires me to review these lists anyway. Really good names I'll secure for the $69 or $79 premium at NameJet.com or Snapnames. Lesser names I'll throw a Godaddy back order at and hope for the best. Sometimes it's very possible to just pick up the domain after the drop for registration fee. It really just depends on the name.

I've also found the best domain names won't make it all the way through the cycle to be back ordered. Services like Godaddy Expired Domain Auctions and NameJet's PreRelease Auctions thin the heard while domains are still in the redemption grace period and really reduce the amount of quality domain names available on any given drop day. You'll pay a bit more going through these services but quality domain availability is more common in these lists.

FindAgedDomains.com: Godaddy Domain Auctions Analyzer

Being an obsessive domainer, I usually test out new domain name related products and websites when they launch. I came across FindAgedDomains.com on Twitter a few days back and exchanged a few emails with the owner Joris De Donder. Joris offered me temporary access to the platform in exchange for an unbiased review. I was also given a discount code, NAMECLERK, to distribute to my readers. The discount code will reduce the monthly membership to $29 or a 3 month membership to $79. For the sake of disclosure, I do not receive any affiliate commissions on signups.

The primary benefit provided by FindAgedDomains.com is the ability to locate and purchase aged domains listed on the Godaddy Closeout Domains Auction platform before they are deleted form the registry. A domains age, determined by it's original registration date, is an important variable in determining a domain's potential value and effectiveness in regards to development. Unlike other drop catching services like Snapnames and Namejet, domains purchased through the Godaddy closeout auctions retain their original registration date because they are never dropped and reset at the registry.

Godaddy's current interface for closeout auctions only provides the domain name, estimated traffic data, and the current price for each listing. You would have to perform manual look-ups for every listing to find the domains age, back links, etc. Even an automated tool like DRT would take a considerable amount of time to look up this data in bulk on a daily basis.

Members at FindAgedDomains.com are able to download sortable daily lists that include the domain name, registration date, back links, PR, domain authority, and mozRank for all Godaddy closeout auctions. Joris told me they are planning to add Alexa and Quantcast data very soon. The lists are presented on a well organized page and are available to download in Excel and CSV format. The CSV format allows you to import the lists into other scripts and programs for further analysis. There are also smaller sub lists that only contain domains with more than 100 back links or are pre-2006 registrations. Below is a screen shot of an Excel file from a list from March 15th.

I performed a spot check on the March 26th list. I searched for 5 of the oldest domains along with a handful of the domains with the highest reported number of back links. All were still available to be purchased at Godaddy with $10 and under buy it now listings.

Overall, I was pretty impressed with the service and the price seems reasonable as well. If aged domains with back links is your thing, you should check it out.

FindAgedDomains.com
Use coupon code NAMECLERK and receive 25% off the normal monthly charge.

Snapnames $99 and Under Domain Bargains

The following domain names are currently up for auction through the Snapnames Exclusive Seller Program. I've filtered the list so that it only includes domain names with price tags of $99 or lower. Nearly all of these domains have Google search volume on the keyword terms that make up the domains. I've capitilized the keyword terms to make it easier to plug them into Estibot.com if you'd like to pull up some metrics.

AkronAthletics.com
ArubaHotelReviews.com
AustriaHotelReviews.com
BanjoRepairs.com
BerlinHotelReviews.com
BroadbandAccessCard.com
BusinessEducationTraining.com
BuyAntidepressants.com
CardiovascularTreatments.com
CarpetTreatment.com
ColorPhotocopies.com
CustomBathroomCabinets.com
DenimBibOveralls.com
DigitalCalendars.com
ElectronicClaimProcessing.com
EmmyWinners.com
EnglishBreweries.com
EuropeanSupermodels.com
EyebrowLifts.com
FilmPublicist.com
FindConstructionJobs.com
FreeOnlineDemo.com
FreeSampleOffer.com
GermanyHotelReviews.com
GetCredentials.com
HardwareSuperstore.com
HelpDeskPositions.com
HelpHotlines.com
HighBandwidthHosting.com
HomeopathyRemedy.com
InfantAttire.com
InternationalBankAccounts.com
IrelandHotelReviews.com
JournalismProgram.com
KingMattressSet.com
KitchenLaminate.com
LeadVocalist.com
LeagueMerchandise.com
LegitimateOnlineBusiness.com
LuxuryBedroomSet.com
MaintenanceFreeLiving.com
MargaritaSet.com
MunichDiscountHotels.com
MusicPhotographs.com
NathanPhillipsSquare.com
NycOperaTickets.com
OmahaHotelRates.com
ParalegalProfessionals.com
PolypropyleneFilter.com
PotassiumSulphate.com
ProBaseballJersey.com
ProHockeyJersey.com
ProfessionalStuntman.com
RateLenders.com
ResidentialMortgageBroker.com
RetailStoreSecurity.com
RobustSecurity.com
RomePackage.com
ScotlandAirfares.com
SecurityInvestors.com
ShortSleeveTees.com
SleevelessTee.com
SteelFilingCabinet.com
SuburbanCrime.com
SweetConfections.com
TahoeCondominiums.com
TaxAdministrators.com
TextTelephones.com
TucsonVacationPackages.com
UnclaimedBalance.com
ViennaHotelReviews.com
VoiceMessagingSoftware.com
WarDocumentaries.com
WaterproofSealer.com
WellingtonHarbour.com
WirelessMobilePhones.com
WorkoutSweats.com

The Best of SnapNames

Identifying and isolating the domain names with potential from Snapnames.com current auction lists can be a time consuming process.  Snapnames usually has over 25,000 domain auctions running simultaneously so it's not a matter of scanning through a short list to pick out the winners.

Many quality domain names go unnoticed at Snapnames for this reason. I've decided to create a new SnapNames section where I'll regularly point out some of the better domain names that are currently up for auction. My selections will be based off similar criteria I use to select my available domain name lists, namely, Google search volume, advertiser competition and PPC bid values for the keyword terms that make up the domains.

The lists will not be comprehensive and I'll probably leave out the obvious gems. The single word generic .com's get enough attention on their own. My goal with these lists is to shine a light on some of the quality compound and long tail domains that Snapnames has to offer. If you feel these lists have value I'd appreciate some feedback stating so. It's takes a fair amount of time to put them together so I'd like to make sure my visitors are getting something out of them.

Here is this week's Snapnames list:

AccountingPosition.com
ActiveSportswear.com
AirfaresToIndia.com
AirPelletGuns.com
AmericanMedicalColleges.com
AnimeGirls.com
AntiguaFlight.com
ArubaAutoRental.com
AutoGpsUnits.com
BangkokHotelReviews.com
BarbadosFlight.com
BostonHotelPackages.com
BroadbandWirelessRouter.com
CalligraphyClasses.com
CancunWeddingPackages.com
CarSeatCarriers.com
CashmereTurtlenecks.com
CeramicKitchenSinks.com
CoinOrganizer.com
CommercialGasGrills.com
CommercialMortgagesRates.com
CommunicationApplications.com
ComputerCableLocks.com
CozumelRentalCars.com
CozumelTravelPackages.com
CozumelVacationDeals.com
CreditPayments.com
CreditProtector.com
CreditRatingReports.com
CreditRestore.com
CriminalLawJobs.com
CustomBathroomCabinets.com
DataCartridges.com
DenimBibOveralls.com
DesignerLampshades.com
DigitalCalendars.com
DigitalCameraWarranty.com
DisplayModel.com
DualMonitorCard.com
EbusinessStrategies.com
EmmyWinners.com
EnglandTravelDeals.com
EyebrowLifts.com
FileStorageCabinets.com
FineArtsProgram.com
FreePsychicTalk.com
GardenOfEden.com
GrandCaymanAirfare.com
GreekVacationPackages.com
HeavyDutyCart.com
HelpDeskPositions.com
HighBandwidthHosting.com
HomeComputerNetworks.com
InternationalBankAccounts.com
JobsFair.com
JointSavingsAccount.com
KitchenLaminate.com
LandscapePrices.com
LeagueMerchandise.com
LegitimateOnlineBusiness.com
ManagementJobSearch.com
MargaritaSet.com
MicrowaveHeatingPad.com
MicrowaveHeatingPads.com
NathanPhillipsSquare.com
NewZealandTravelDeals.com
NotebookCableLock.com
OmahaRentalCars.com
PetTransporting.com
PewterClocks.com
PotassiumSulphate.com
PublicStorageUnits.com
QueenMattressSets.com
ReduceGas.com
RepairCamcorder.com
ResidentialMortgageBroker.com
RetailStoreSecurity.com
RollingFileCabinets.com
SatinBriefs.com
SeychellesVacation.com
SpanishAppetizers.com
SportsArena.com
SportsLeague.com
TeenActors.com
TexasPropertySearch.com
ToddlerBathingSuits.com
TravelingSalesJobs.com
TucsonVacationPackages.com
UnderarmWaxing.com
UpholsterySteamCleaner.com
UpholsterySteamCleaners.com
VehicleSweepstakes.com
WellingtonHarbour.com
WomensBodysuits.com
WorldCupHighlights.com
WrinkleResistantClothing.com
WrinkleResistantPants.com
WrinkleResistantShirts.com
YiddishHumor.com

Happy Domaining!

Network Solutions Has No Use for DomainNames.com

Network Solutions is listed as the registrar and registrant of DomainNames.com. Unless I'm experiencing some type of DNS issue, they apparently don't see the need to redirect this domain to NetworkSolutions.com or anywhere else for that matter.

Firefox returns a "page cannot be displayed" error and even more comical, Internet Explorer calls up a Microsoft Live Search page on which, Network Solutions is paying for the #1 sponsored sites position.

Is Network Solutions actually paying for traffic they already own?

UPDATE: DomainNames.com is now pointing to NetworkSolutions.com. I'm guessing they didn't know about this and corrected it. Is a reward in order? Hmmm, didn't think so.

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